WHAT: The United States Mint will join representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Nov. 15 at 10:30 a.m. (ET) to launch the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program coin honoring Block Island National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island.
Ceremony participants include the Chariho High School Student Choir, students from Chariho Middle School, and members of Boy Scout Troop #15. Chris Costello, designer of the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge quarter reverse (tails), will attend. Following the ceremony, $10 rolls of Block Island National Wildlife Refuge quarters will be available for exchange.
WHO:
- David Ryder, Director, United States Mint
- Janet Coit, Director, Department of Environmental Management, on behalf of Governor Raimondo
- James Kurth, Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Charlie Vandemoer, Manager, Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge
- Chris Costello, Designer, United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program
WHEN: Thursday, November 15, 2018, 10:30 a.m. (ET)
WHERE:
Kettle Pond Visitor Center
Charlestown, RI 02813
The event will be livestreamed at https://www.fws.gov/northeast/live/Block-Island-Quarter.html. The livestream will also be available at the Block Island School so that all students can watch the ceremony in real-time.
Note: Parking for the event is located at Ninigret Park, Rte. 1A, Park Lane, Charlestown, RI 02813. (GPS Coordinates: 41.374504 -71.665873) Shuttles will be provided from 9:00 am to 10:15 am and following the event. Dress warmly for outside tent event.
COIN FORUM
The United States Mint will host a coin forum the evening before the launch ceremony—Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, 5–6:30 p.m.—at the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters Kettle Pond Visitor Center. The coin forum is an opportunity for the public to learn about upcoming United States Mint coin programs and initiatives, and express their views about future coinage.
The Block Island National Wildlife Refuge quarter is the 45th release in the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program, a 12-year initiative that honors 56 national parks and other national sites authorized by Public Law 110-456. Each year, the public will see five new national sites depicted on the reverses (tails sides) of the America the Beautiful Quarters. The United States Mint is issuing these quarters in the order in which the national sites were officially established.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Interview with Block Island National Wildlife Refuge quarter engraver Phebe Hemphill.
- Learn more about the United States Mint.
- Information about the United States Mint, America the Beautiful Quarters Program, and the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge.
